Aglaonema plant named ‘Muklass’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Aglaonema  plant named ‘Muklass’, characterized by its upright and outwardly arching plant habit; freely clumping habit; vigorous growth habit; relatively short internodes giving a compact, dense, full and symmetrical plant form; narrowly lanceolate leaves with greyed green-colored centers contrasting with dark green-colored midveins, margins and random markings; dark green-colored petioles; and relative tolerance to low temperatures.

Botanical designation: Aglaonema hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘MUKLASS’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Aglaonema plant, botanically known as Aglaonema hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Muklass’.

The new Aglaonema plant is the product of a controlled breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Chamrajpet, Bangalore, India. The objective of the breeding program is to create new full, dense and compact Aglaonema plants with good plant vigor, interesting and unique leaf shapes and variegation patterns, resistance to pathogens and pests and tolerance to low temperatures.

The new Aglaonema plant is the product of a cross-pollination conducted by the Inventor on Jun. 3, 2005 of Aglaonema hybrida ‘Silver Ribbons’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,985, as the female, or seed, parent with an unnamed selection of Aglaonema stenophyllum f. linearifolium, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Aglaonema plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor in September, 2006 as a single plant from within the resultant progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Tiruporur, Chennai, India.

Asexual reproduction of the new Aglaonema plant by cuttings and divisions in a controlled environment in Tiruporur, Chennai, India since December, 2006 has shown that the unique features of this new Aglaonema plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Aglaonema have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Muklass’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Muklass’ as a new and distinct Aglaonema plant:

-   -   1. Upright and outwardly arching plant habit.     -   2. Freely clumping habit.     -   3. Vigorous growth habit.     -   4. Relatively short internodes giving a compact, dense, full and         symmetrical plant form.     -   5. Narrowly lanceolate leaves with greyed green-colored centers         contrasting with dark green-colored midveins, margins and random         markings.     -   6. Dark green-colored petioles.     -   7. Relatively tolerant to low temperatures.

Plants of the new Aglaonema differ from plants of the female parent. ‘Silver Ribbons’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Aglaonema have longer and narrower leaves         than plants of ‘Silver Ribbons’.     -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Aglaonema have obtuse bases         whereas leaves of plants of ‘Silver Ribbons’ have cordate bases.     -   3. Plants of the new Aglaonema and ‘Silver Ribbons’ differ in         leaf shape, coloration and variegation pattern.

Plants of the new Aglaonema differ from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Aglaonema are more symmetrical and denser         than plants of the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Aglaonema have broader leaves than plants         of the male parent selection.     -   3. Leaves of plants of the new Aglaonema have obtuse bases         whereas leaves of plants of the male parent selection have         attenuate bases.     -   4. Plants of the new Aglaonema and the male parent selection         differ in leaf shape, coloration and variegation pattern.     -   5. Plants of the new Aglaonema and the male parent selection         differ in leaf petiole color.

Plants of the new Aglaonema can be compared to plants of Aglaonema hybrida ‘White Lance’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,053. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Chamrajpet, Bangalore, India, plants of the new Aglaonema differed from plants of ‘White Lance’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Aglaonema had longer, narrower and flatter         leaves than plants of ‘White Lance’.     -   2. Plants of the new Aglaonema and ‘White Lance’ differed in         leaf shape, coloration and variegation pattern.     -   3. Plants of the new Aglaonema and ‘White Lance’ differed in         leaf petiole color.

Plants of the new Aglaonema can also be compared to plants of Aglaonema hybrida ‘Black Lance’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,280. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Chamrajpet, Bangalore, India, plants of the new Aglaonema differed from plants of ‘Black Lance’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Aglaonema were more compact and denser than         plants of ‘Black Lance’.     -   2. Plants of the new Aglaonema had longer, narrower and flatter         leaves than plants of ‘Black Lance’.     -   3. Plants of the new Aglaonema and ‘Black Lance’ differed in         leaf shape, coloration and variegation pattern.     -   4. Plants of the new Aglaonema and ‘Black Lance’ differed in         leaf petiole color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Aglaonema plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Aglaonema plant.

The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘Muklass’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown in 25-cm containers in Miami, Fla. during the summer and autumn in a polypropylene-covered shadehouse. Plants were grown under environmental conditions and cultural practices which approximate those generally used in commercial Aglaonema production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 27° C. to 37° C., night temperatures ranged from 15° C. to 26° C. and light levels averaged 1,500 foot-candles. Plants were one year old when the photographs and the detailed description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Aglaonema hybrida ‘Muklass’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Aglaonema hybrida ‘Silver Ribbons’,             disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,985.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unnamed selection of Aglaonema             stenophyllum f. linearifolium, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By cuttings and divisions.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 21 to 28 days at             25° C. to 32° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 30 to 40 days at             12° C. to 25° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 30 to 35             days at 25° C. to 32° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant roots, winter.—About 45             to 60 days at 12° C. to 25° C.         -   Root description.—Fleshy, medium in thickness; off-white in             color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; profuse, high density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright and outwardly arching plant             habit; freely clumping habit; relatively short internodes             giving a compact, dense, full and symmetrical habit;             vigorous growth habit; developing leaves initially upright,             then gracefully arching outwardly with development.         -   Plant height, from soil level to top of leaf plane.—About 56             cm.         -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 88 cm.         -   Stem description.—Clumping habit: Plants of the new             Aglaonema are freely clumping with about 42 clumps             developing per plant. Aspect: Mostly upright. Strength:             Strong; somewhat flexible. Diameter, at the base: About             1.8 cm. Internode length, at the base: About 1 cm. Color:             Close to 147A. Cataphylls: None observed. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate to whorled; simple.         -   Length.—About 27 cm.         -   Width.—About 4 cm.         -   Shape.—Narrowly lanceolate.         -   Apex.—Acuminate; straight.         -   Base.—Obtuse.         -   Margin.—Entire; very slightly undulate.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Ground color,             closest to 144A to 144B; main veins, margins and random             markings, closest to 137A to 137B; lateral venation, same as             leaf coloration. Developing leaves, lower surface: Closest             to 144A; venation, close to 144A. Fully expanded leaves,             upper surface: Ground color, closest to 191A, 194A and/or             194B; main veins, margins and random markings, darker than             N137A; lateral venation, same as leaf coloration. Fully             expanded leaves, lower surface: Closest to N137A; midvein,             close to 146A; lateral venation, close to N137A.         -   Petiole.—Aspect: Mostly erect, gracefully outwardly arching             with development. Length: About 10 cm. Diameter, distal:             About 4 mm. Diameter, proximal, flattened: About 2 cm.             Strength: Strong; flexible. Color, distal: Close to 147A.             Color, proximal: Close to 147B; area adjacent to stem, close             to 157A to 157C. Wing length: About 9 cm. Wing diameter,             base: About 4 mm. Wing color, inner and outer surfaces:             Close to 147A; towards the base, close to 147B; area             adjacent to stem, close to 157A to 157C. -   Inflorescence description: Inflorescence development has not been     observed on plants of the new Aglaonema. -   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Aglaonema have not been     observed to be resistant to pathogens or pests common to Aglaonema. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Aglaonema have been     observed to be relatively low temperature tolerant and to tolerate     temperatures ranging from about 15° C. to about 40° C. 

1. A new and distinct Aglaonema plant named ‘Muklass’ as illustrated and described. 